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Botox, Dysport equally effective in treating melomental folds

There was no statistically significant difference in the treatment of melomental folds with Botox compared with Dysport, with both treated sides showing relatively equal improvement, according to study results.

Sabrina G. Fabi, MD, and colleagues conducted a single-center study of 20 women (mean age, 56.4 years) with moderate-to-severe melomental folds at rest. The patients were randomized to receive one intramuscular injection of 10 units (0.1 mL) of Dysport (abotulimutoxinA [ABO], Galderma) in the depressor anguli oris on one side, and 4 units (0.1 mL) of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA [OBA], Allergan) on the contralateral side.

Sabrina G. Fabi

A conversion rate of 2.5 units of ABO per 1 unit of OBA was used. ABO and OBA were reconstituted with 0.9% sterile physiologic saline to yield the correct amount of units.

The melomental folds at rest and maximal contraction were assessed by patients and masked evaluators at baseline and days 14, 42, 90 and 120 after treatment.

Mean melomental severity score at baseline as determined by a masked investigator was 2.3 (ABO side) and 2.5 (OBA side) at maximal contracture and 1.7 (ABO side) and 2.5 (OBA side) at rest. Patients assessed mean melomental fold severity score at maximal contraction of 2.6 on the ABO-treated side and 2.7 on the OBA-treated side.

Masked investigators at week 2 determined that mean melomental fold severity score was 0.55 on the ABO-treated side and 0.625 on the OBA-treated side, P =. 01 and P = .002, respectively and -0.11 and 0.175 on the ABO- and OBA-treated sides, which was not statistically significant.

At week 16, the improvement in melomental fold severity score when compared with baseline was maintained, with a maximum contraction with mean melomental score severity scores of 1.36 and 1.73 on the ABO- and OBA-treated sides, respectively (P < .001 for both).

There was a significant improvement in patient self-assessment scores in the OBA-treated side at weeks 2 and 6 (P=.0283, P=.007) at maximum contraction.

There was no statistically significant difference seen between the ABO- and OBA-treated sides in any evaluation category.

A limitation of the study was that five patients were lost to follow-up, the researchers wrote.  — by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: Fabi reports serving as a clinical investigator, consultant and/or speaker for Galderma, Allergan, Mentor/Johnson & Johnson, and Merz. Please see the full study for other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.